Nursing Assistant (NAT) Training Program
Train to become a nursing assistant in Just 5 Weeks
Gain hands-on clinical experience and compassionate care skills with our Department of Public Health approved NAT program.
Program Overview
The Nursing Assistant Training (NAT) Program at A Better Tomorrow Services is designed to prepare students for entry-level healthcare careers in long-term care facilities, hospitals, and other clinical environments. The program combines classroom instruction, hands-on lab practice, and supervised clinical experience to ensure students are equipped with both the knowledge and skills needed to provide quality, compassionate care.
- Duration: 122.75 hours (84 classroom/lab + 38.75 clinical)
- Instructor Ratio: Small class sizes for personalized instruction
- linical Site: Neville Center, Cambridge, MA
- Schedule: 5-week course (4 weeks classroom + 1 week clinical)
- Certificate: Upon successful completion of the program, students will receive a certificate of completion and are then eligible to take state exam.
Instructional Methods
Students will learn through a combination of:
Interactive lectures
Video demonstrations
Role-playing scenarios
Hands-on lab skills training
Clinical practice under RN/LPN supervision
The training focuses on both technical and interpersonal skills, with a strong emphasis on patient dignity, rights, and communication.
Outcome Summary
Graduates of the program will be awarded a Certificate of Completion and will be eligible to sit for the State Nurse Aide Competency Exam. Upon certification, students will be qualified to work as Certified Nursing Assistants (CNAs) across various healthcare settings — and are also eligible to function as Home Health Aides (HHAs).
State Exam
Upon successful completion of the Nurse Aide Training Program, students will be eligible to take the State Exam to become certified as a Nurse Aide in Massachusetts.
The application form for the State Testing and a copy of A Better Tomorrow Services Health Training Nurse Aide Training certificates will be given to students upon graduating. It will be the student’s responsibility to mail the form, including a copy of their ABTSHT Nurse Aide Training certificate, and a money order or Bank Check in the amount of $110.00 made out to “TMU/Nurse Aide Program”.
The State Testing Agency will schedule the test and notify the student of the test date upon receiving their application.
All students who have successfully completed the Nursing Assistant Training Program and fulfilled all financial obligations to the school will be awarded a Certificate of Completion that will allow them to sign-up for and take the State Certification Exam. The test will include a written exam and a clinical demonstration. The written exam is available in oral form for an additional cost.
What You’ll Learn
Real-World Skills for Healthcare Excellence
- Personal care: bathing, dressing, feeding
- Transporting and mobility assistance
- Taking vital signs
- Life cycle and end-of-life care
- Legal and ethical patient rights
- Communication skills and emotional support
Learning Objectives
By the End of This Program, You’ll Be Able To:
- Form meaningful patient relationships
- Support residents' emotional and physical health
- Document and report health conditions
- Uphold safety and ethical care practices
- Work effectively as part of a care team
- Provide basic quality nursing care with confidence
How the Program Works
Our Nursing Assistant Training Program is a fast-paced, 5-week program that combines classroom learning, lab skills, and hands-on clinical training. Designed to prepare students for real-world caregiving roles, the program structure ensures both theoretical knowledge and practical confidence before entering the workforce.
Breakdown of the 5-Week Program
Classroom & Lab
84 hours
Includes lectures, lab skills practice, presentations, and theory-based exams.
Clinical Practice
38.75 hours
Held at Neville Center (Cambridge, MA) with supervision from qualified RNs.
Total
122.75 hours
Required to complete certification eligibility.
Program Details and Requirements
Entrance Requirements
- High school diploma or its equivalent or Pass Pre-Entrance Exam with 100% score
- TB test held within the last 12 months.
- Covid test.
- A physical examination.
- US citizenship and/or US residency status.
- Be at least 16 years of age to do the NAT and HHA Programs.
- Have proof of personal health insurance (requested but not required).
- Provide a valid government-issued picture ID (Passport, ID Card, Driver’s License, etc.)
Application Process
- All applicants are required to submit a completed application form with personal details, providing proof of high school diploma or equivalent, including:
- Personal information (name, address, contact details)
- Emergency contact information
- Educational background (high school diploma or equivalent)
- Previous healthcare experience (if any).
- All applicants are required to provide the following documents:
- Photo ID
- Proof of high school diploma or equivalent
- Immunization records (including TB test results)
- Applicants must undergo a physical examination and provide a letter from their primary physician that indicates medical clearance.
- All applicants will be called to attend an interview with the program coordinator to discuss their motivations and suitability for the course.
- After the student has been accepted to the program, all applicants will be required to pay full or partial payment to secure the spot in the training course and enroll.
Tuition & Fees
Below is the breakdown of tuition and associated program costs for the Nursing Assistant Training Program.
- Total Cost: $1,600.00 (includes $50.00 administrative fee)
- Textbook: $80
- Uniform: $55 (purple scrub top, white scrub pants): $20-$30; White tennis shoes: $20-$50;
- White tennis shoes: $20.00–$50.00
- Watch with a second hand: $10.00–$20.00
Program Progression Requirements
To maintain satisfactory academic standing, a student must fulfill requirements for theory, lab, skills, and clinical attendance, achieve the necessary grades and conduct standards, and meet financial obligations as agreed upon at the start of enrollment.
Theory Grade Requirements
Grading Scale
- A Satisfactory/Pass grade will be given to any student who successfully performs all clinical skills and achieves an average of 80% or higher on classwork.
- The assessment in the classroom will be based on individual presentation(s) tests, exams, and lab skills demonstration.
- Students will take all exams on the scheduled date and time.
- A minimum of 80% Average of all exams is required to pass the course.
- If a student does not take the exam on the day and time that was scheduled by the RN Instructor, the student must make arrangements with the RN instructor to take a Make-Up- exam.
- NAT students are responsible for 84 hours of theory, lab skills, and 38.75 hours of clinical practice, for a total of 122.75 hours of program training.
Testing Policy
Examinations
To help students prepare for the state competency exam, quizzes, midterm, final and comprehensive exams will be administered. In addition, students will need to demonstrate proficiency in all skills procedures and pass the clinical portion of the course.
Students are required to meet the minimum standards of academic progress to remain in the program. Any student who misses a scheduled exam will be allowed to take a makeup exam under the following conditions:
- The instructor must be notified of the absence before the scheduled exam date/time.
- The student must reschedule the exam with the instructor of the course within one week following the exam.
- Permission will be given only for legitimate excuses, and only when notification of absence was made.
- Any student who does not reschedule the exam within one week of returning to class will automatically receive a grade of zero (0) for the exam.
Lab Procedures Competency Requirements
Skills demonstration and practice are integrated in the program. Students are taught all the required skills by DPH, with other skills necessary to provide basic healthcare services.
There is time allotted for skills practice.
Students need to demonstrate competency of skills learned in the classroom.
Lab evaluation is graded as Satisfactory, Unsatisfactory or Needs Practice.
Students are expected to be able to satisfactorily demonstrate in class the skills before they will be allowed to perform these skills in the clinical setting.
Skills validation is done before the students go to clinical and at the end of the program.
Any student who fails to demonstrate successfully on the first attempt will be given a ‘Remediation’ slip, and will be asked to remediate before a retest may be given.
There are two additional chances to demonstrate competency. Failure to demonstrate competency on the third attempt may require additional learning activities or may be precluded from the program.
Clinical Grade Requirements
The following guidelines are used for clinical evaluation:
Each student will be evaluated on a Satisfactory, Unsatisfactory or Needs Improvement basis.
Students with ‘Needs Improvement’ have failed the clinical portion.
Satisfactory: Student consistently meets the criteria established for effective clinical performance.
Needs Improvement (Did Not Pass): Student inconsistently meets the criteria established for effective clinical performance. This is considered a failing grade for the clinical portion, however students will have the opportunity to discuss their performance with the instructor and work to improve to Satisfactory by the end of clinicals.
Unsatisfactory: Student consistently fails to meet the criteria established for effective clinical performance.
Students will be evaluated and provided feedback throughout the clinical experience. Each student will have a post conference with their instructor at the completion of the program to discuss clinical performance and receive a written evaluation.
Any student having difficulty meeting the standards will have a weekly conference with the instructor so that appropriate assistance can be provided, and minimum competency can be achieved.
Students will have the chance to complete a self-evaluation during the clinical experience and be able to review this with their instructors.
Students who receive a ‘Needs Improvement’ or ‘Did Not Pass’ evaluation during the clinical portion of the program will have the opportunity to discuss their performance with the instructor. When appropriate, the written evaluation will include a specific improvement plan.
If a ‘Needs Improvement’ evaluation is not elevated to a ‘Satisfactory’ level by the end of the clinical experience, it will be recorded as ‘Unsatisfactory’.
A ‘Did Not Pass’ evaluation in one or more areas at the end of the clinical portion will result in an ‘Unsatisfactory’ grade for clinical performance. In this case, the student will be unable to complete the program.
Upon completion, the original written evaluation will be submitted to the program office and placed in the student’s file, with a copy provided to the student.
Clinical Supervision
- Direct one-on-one observation of student skill performance is required when a skill is being performed for the first time with a client to ensure the client’s safety through direct supervision and assistance as needed.
- Guided independent practice occurs when a student performs a skill independently under supervision, with both the student and instructor confident in its safe completion.
- Periodic observation of student skill performance may take place at any point during a procedure when the student is expected to perform safely without continuous supervision.
- Independent skill performance without direct observation is permitted when the student has demonstrated the ability to perform the skill safely, as reasonably expected of all students. The method of supervision at any given time is determined by the instructor, taking into account the following factors:
- Ensuring the client’s safety at all times.
- Demonstrated safe performance of a skill in a simulated lab and/or clinical setting.
- The need for varying levels of observation based on strengths and areas for improvement identified by both the instructor and the student.
- Encouraging students to actively assess, evaluate, and discuss their strengths, challenges, and specific learning needs with the instructor.
Dress Code & Clinical Uniform
The Nurse Assistant student uniform is a purple scrub top, white- scrub pants, and white shoes. Shoes should be an athletic/tennis shoe, and must be closed toe and closed heel. Shoes may have some other small color or design, as long as they are mostly white.
A watch with a second hand is part of the uniform. Students are expected to be in uniform every day of class, clinical, state exam days, the job fair, and graduation.
Failure to follow the dress code will result in a ‘Student at Risk’ filing, and if not corrected will result in dismissal from the program.
Permitted
- Scarf or skirt (neutral colors) for those with religious necessity
- Small earring studs and rings with personal significance (limit one per hand)
- Natural makeup
- Nails trimmed not extending beyond tips of fingers. No colors or designs.
Not Permitted
- Cellphones. They must be put away and turned off during class and clinical.
- Hats or scarves (except for religious purposes).
- Dangling jewelry or visible facial piercings (nose, eyebrow, lip, chin, etc.).
- Long, loose hair, extreme hair color or styles.
- Acrylic nails or overlays.
- Heeled, open-back, or clogged shoes.
- Jackets over the uniform attire, unless they are professional scrub jackets. A long sleeve red, white, gray, or black shirt is allowed under the white scrub top.
- Openly visible tattoos for the clinical experience.
Full Learning Outcomes (Detailed)
By the conclusion of training, students will be able to:
- Form a relationship, communicate, and interact competently on a one-to-one basis with residents.
- Demonstrate sensitivity to meet residents’ emotional, social, and mental health needs through skillful, directed interactions.
- Exhibit behavior in support and promotion of each resident’s rights.
- Demonstrate observation and documentation skills needed in the assessment of residents’ health, physical condition and well being.
- Recognize the importance of the Nursing Assistant’s role in improving the quality of life for residents in the healthcare system.
- Encourage residents to be as independent as possible.
- Support and maintain the rights of residents, clients, and patients.
- Be sensitive to the physical and psychosocial needs of residents in the health care system.
- Communicate effectively with staff, residents, clients, patients and the family and friends of residents, clients, and patients.
- Provide quality basic care for residents in the healthcare system.
- Help reduce the potentially negative effects of the healthcare system.
- Observe and document a resident’s physical condition and overall well-being.
- Work well as team members with health care system officials and staff.
- Demonstrate understanding of the importance of reporting significant information regarding their residents, clients, and patients.
- Always demonstrate safety.
- Demonstrate sound decision-making abilities and provide safe practices based on direction from an RN or LPN.
Attendance and Punctuality Policy
Students must satisfactorily complete all components of the course, including didactic instruction, lab, and clinical training.
- Punctuality is mandatory. Students are expected to arrive on time for class. The classroom clock will be the official timekeeper.
- Daily attendance is required. Missing any part of the program may affect completion.
- Tardiness will not be tolerated – students who arrive late will receive a ‘Student at Risk’ form and may be subject to dismissal from the program.
- If a student is unable to attend class due to an emergency, they must call the instructor and leave a message by 8:00 A.M. An emergency contact number for their local class will be provided on the first day of the NAT portion of the program.
- Clinical hours vary. Clinical schedules differ from classroom hours and depend on the assigned location. Students will receive their clinical schedule upon registration.
Attendance sheet must be signed by each student daily. NO EXCEPTIONS.
General Conduct and Program Rules & Regulations
Students are expected to maintain professionalism and integrity throughout their training to ensure a safe, supportive, and inclusive learning environment, both within and beyond the institution.
All individuals must adhere to the rules, policies, and regulations from the time of admission to A Better Tomorrow Services Health Training (ABTSHT).
Violations of these policies may result in probation, suspension, or dismissal from the program for any of the following reasons:
- Academic dishonesty, including cheating, plagiarism, or deliberately providing false information.
- Forgery, alteration, or intentional misuse of official ABTSHT documents.
- Theft or intentional damage to institutional or student property while on-site.
- Use or threat of physical force against another individual.
- Unauthorized presence on or use of institutional property.
- Verbal abuse toward students, staff, or faculty.
- Harassment or intimidation, including any willful act intended to frighten, degrade, or disgrace another person.
- Disrupting classes or obstructing the learning environment.
- Discriminatory behavior, which violates ABTSHT’s commitment to equal opportunity for all students.
Start Your Nursing Assistant Journey Today
Train with compassionate instructors, gain real-world experience, and take the first step toward a career in healthcare.
